LAREDO, Texas – Minnesota State Moorhead volleyball continued its Lone Star trek on Tuesday evening. The Dragons used a balanced attack on both sides of the net to defeat Texas A&M International in four sets.
Moorhead would race out of the gates to open the first set, holding a 15-8 lead after an early flurry.
Brielle Riess,
Mya Pfeifer,
Raiah Mandell and
Leah Laqua would lead the offense for Moorhead. Laqua, Riess and
Ava Wild would each tally blocks as well defensively. Texas A&M International would regroup, using an 8-1 scoring run to pull even at 17 points.
The teams would take turns with the lead from there with a Laqua kill matching the count at 24 points. The Dustdevils would rebound with back-to-back kills to heist the set from MSUM, 26-24. While MSUM was efficient offensively, striking a .237 hitting clip in the frame, 12 total errors marred the early success.
As the second set commenced, Moorhead's offense continued to move at a sharp pace. The Dragons would also clean up the errors to build a 15-11 lead. Mandell would pace the offense while Laqua, Wild and
Maci Martini showcased their dominance on defense. The trio combined for five total blocks in the first 15 points. Mandell's fifth kill of the set provided Moorhead a four-point cushion (16-12).
The Dragons would use that momentum to extend their lead to six points late in the set following a three-point swing. Riess dropped in a service ace while Pfeifer added a kill. Appropriately, Mandell stamped the set's final point on her sixth kill of the stanza. Moorhead won the set 25-18 after hitting for a .357 percentage and just six total errors. After two sets of action, Mandell had 10 kills on a .533 hitting percentage.
Both teams would exchange points to open the third set before Moorhead struck on another massive run. The Dragons would score 10 consecutive points, sparked by a block assist from Mandell and Laqua. Martini would tally three kills in the tempest as well. After a kill from Riess, MSUM would possess its largest lead of 12 points (21-9). The Dragons would capture the set 25-15, hitting for another efficient clip (.385).
A highly competitive fourth set would break out with the Dustdevils holding a narrow 11-8 lead. By the midway point of the set, the teams sat gridlocked at 16 points. Riess and Pfeifer would fire off back-to-back kills to push MSUM in front. However, Texas A&M International would answer back, taking a 20-19 advantage.
It was Moorhead's turn to respond, and Laqua would deliver in earnest. The junior sparked a four-point run for MSUM, stamping three kills and an assist to Wild. Texas A&M International would call timeout with Moorhead leading 23-20. As the Dustdevils came within one point out of the break, MSUM made the final charge to victory. Laqua and Wild would team up for a block assist before Wild secured match point for Moorhead.
Moorhead's offense was balanced all evening with six Dragons tallying six or more kills. Riess led the way with 15 kills and a .370 hit percentage. Mandell was exceptional as well, marking 12 kills and two blocks while also striking a high hitting clip (.304). Laqua turned in another stat-stuffer, killing six attacks (.545 hit percentage) with seven total blocks. Setter
Madi Colby turned in a double-double of 22 assists and 10 digs.
Up Next
MSUM (3-2) begins play at the Javelina Volleyball Classic, hosted by Texas A&M Kingsville, later this week. Moorhead will play four matches across Thursday, Friday and Saturday beginning with St. Mary's (Texas) on Thursday at 4 p.m.
